Carbon case studies Flashcards
UK energy consumption
- Until the 1970s, the UK depended heavily on domestic coal from Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Wales and north-east England, but lost momentum following the discovery of large reserves of North Sea oil and gas, whose increased use after the 1970s greatly altered the UKs energy mix.
- The UK’s last deep coal mine closed in 2015, although 80% of the UK’s primary energy still came from fossil fuels.
- In 2015, the UK committed to a 40% reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.
- It intends to broaden its energy mix with renewable sources especially wind and more nuclear power.
Norway energy consumption
- Norway is mountainous, so HEP is the natural energy choice due to its steep valleys and plentiful rainfall.
- Much of the oil and natural gas in its territorial waters are exported.
- Norsk Hydro runs over 600HEP sites, which supply 97.5% of Norway’s renewable electricity.
- Norway’s Policy for Change was launched in 2016, with a domestic target of being carbon neutral by 2050
OPEC
Its mission is to co-ordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its members, to ensure the stabilisation of oil markets, in order to secure:
* An efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers
* A steady income for producers
* A fair return for those investing in the industry
- Embargoed US in 1970s - 400% rise in oil price afterwards, largest oil shortage
- Controls 2/3 of world’s oil reserves
- Produces 45% of the world’s crude oil and 15% of natural gas
TNC - Shell
- 3.2 million barrels of oil equivalent produced every day
- 1988 – San Francisco Bay 400,000 gallon spill, birds killed, wetlands damaged
TNC - Gazprom
- Makes up 40% of EUs total gas supply and 32% of its oil supply
- Russian owned - utilise Russia’s huge gas reserves, making them politically powerful
Greenpeace
- aim to defend natural world
- pressure groups bring environmental issues to government’s attention
- against fracking
Top countries for coal reserves / Top consumers
USA, Russia, China / China, India, USA
Top countries for oil reserves / Top consumers
Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Canada / USA, China, India
Top countries for natural gas reserves / Top consumers
Russia, Iran, Qatar / USA, Russia, China
Pipeline disruptions
- Ukraine is considered a choke point in the EU’s supply of oil - most pipelines from Russia run through Ukraine, and with increasing uncertainty in Ukraine relations with Russia, the EU’s supply could become increasingly insecure.
- Natural hazards - In 2013, a storm damaged an import pipeline in the United Kingdom (UK). This led to UK gas reserves falling to only 6 hours’ worth.
- Piracy - There were multiple reported cases by the International Maritime Bureau along the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore in 2015. This strait is the world’s second-largest chokepoint for oil and gas transit by tanker. Vessels are frequently seized by ships for hostage payments.
Tar Sands
Canada has the world’s largest reserves of tar sands, with three major deposits in Alberta - the Athabasca, Cold Lake and Peace River deposits. Together, they cover an area larger than England.
Extracting the oil is expensive and difficult, but it helps to improve Canada’s energy security.
* Mass deforestation since 1963 to make way for the extraction equipment.
* Several oil leaks into the nearby Athabasca river
* GOVERNMENTS: Alberta regional government and Canada’s national government promote tar sands for energy security and economic development.
* OIL COMPANIES: local and international companies include Syncrude, Shell, Exxon and BP and they believe that it has a positive impact on the economies of Alberta and Canada.
* ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURE GROUPS: Greenpeace called for an end to the ‘industrialisation of indigenous territories, forests and wetlands in Northern Alberta’.
Deep water oil
Brazil
- About 80% of the oil currently produced in Brazil already comes from these types of fields.
Oil shale
USA
- has 77% of known global reserves of Shale gas.
- The largest shale reserve in the US is Wolfcamp in the Permian basin in Western Texas; it has proven reserves of 11.8 billion barrels. This area is mined by most of the major oil companies including BP, Shell and Exxon
Hinkley Point
Hinkley Point C is an £18 billion project, which will provide energy for 60 years, 25 000 jobs, involving French state-owned EDF and China General Number.
- Provides low-carbon electricity for around 6 million homes
- The electricity generated by its two ERP reactors will offset 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year, or 600 million tonnes over its 60-year lifespan.
- Delivers 7% of the UKs electricity
Chernobyl
Chernobyl - a chain reaction in the core went out of control. Several explosions triggered a large fireball and blew off the heavy steel and concrete lid of the reactor. This and the ensuing fire in the graphite reactor core released large amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere, where it was carried great distances by air currents. A partial meltdown of the core also occurred. 54 was the initial death toll, though in the long term at least 4000 deaths were projected as a result of it
